Apparatus for shearing



C. J. KLEIN 5' AL APPARATUS FOR SHEARING April 2, 1940.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26, 1937 INVENTOR C lane/Ice J/f/ein 15E rn 651 w. R/e'yer M fwnlu.

' )9 TTOPNE YS April 1940- c. J. KLEIN El AL APPARATUS FOR SHEARING Filed Nov. 26 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TMW7 s v I I u Y WW M, 3 Wm M a, m m mw w m m v m on em? .5 M 1H NM 4 J WN NM 1. I a Q A NN u N mam 1 IJ[ N 5% Q 5 a F 3 w rL mm 3w wi 1111.11]- 5 1 1 TM! NI VIIAQIPI IIIII|FI I II II|I|INNI:I|. ll m lmmll l l llllllm N .I|.| u v v I: 5 a 5. 5 & .m.w Y 5 55 N e NM. CL JR N w m m Q N u .N. mum 5 NN v 1 h M MN N um um 5 Sheets -Sheet 3 April 1940- c. J. KLEIN El AL APPARATUS FOR SHEARING Filed Nov. 26, 1957 April 1940- c. J. KLEIN ET AL 2,

APPARATUS FOR SHEARING 5 Sheds-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 26, 1937 April 2, 1940. Y Y m I 2,195,535

APPARATUS FOR SHEARING 4 Filed Nov. 26. 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 5 lNVENTOR Clare-need. lf/ein Ern esf MAR/129e,

PatentedApr, 2,1940, i I a V :1 I

UNITED -s rAr s f PATEN orricg 2,195,535 APPARATUS FOR SHEARING Olarence J. Klein, Marland Heights, W. Va., and

i I Ernest W. Rieger, Bloomingdale, Ohio Application November 26, 1937, Serial No. 176,530

20'Claims. (01.164-48) v The present invention relates broadly toIappaanism can trim them, and it is within the conratus for cutting material and more particularly templation of our invention touse a plurality of for shearing sheet metal and the like. ,While the feeding mechanisms associated with each shear utilityof theinvention is not limited to the metal mechanism. Alternatively, a single feeder may 5 working art, it is particularly adapted thereto be used and the speed ofthe shear adjusted to the 5 I I and especially to the resquaring oftin plate or feederspeed. s

sheets, and will be describedin connection there- It is necessary that a' definite speedof feeda with. It is understood that the word sheet? or ing the sheets wan moving them from the shear plate as hereinafter used is a generic term be maintained with'respect to the speed of operm usedby Way of definition and not by way for ation. of the shear, and it ;;is one of the objects of limitation and includes metallic ornon-metallic the present invention to provide means operating shapes or pieces of various sizes and thicknesses. at 'high;-.speeds .for accomplishing. this purpose.

The present methods of shearing sheets, and Further'more, the sheets are accurately positioned especially the flying shear method of vcutting cold in the apparatusand accuratelyv out to the'desired 1: rolled platefor tinning, are not sufiiciently accusize. I I a rate for certain further 'processing'in the fabri- The present invention also has forits object cators plants. It is'therefore necessary to reto overcome the objections inherent in shearing square certain grades of plates, depending upon. y t s as heretofore p p ed, t obviate the the buyers requirements. .In order to keep'down limitations incident thereto,-and to provide an the cost of resquaring such plate, it is necessary apparatus f 'rshearing' the sidesof sheets y that the material be handled and fed to the means f w h desired accuracy of shearing shears and from the shears to the'piler automatimay be continuously obt d in a V y rapid n cally and with the greatest possible speed. By economical manner and with'a minimum of atapparatus such as we have invented, it is possible nt O e P Of t e Ope ato to squaresheets either on two sides or. on 'four In the c omp nying drawings, there are'shown 25 sides at a rate of the order of 200 sheets per for pu p s s f' ustrat c only, certain p ed minute and to cut the sheets to the desired size embodiments Of 0111 invention, e drawings being within very close li it more or less diagrammatic, -In the drawings:

The apparatus which we have invented consists I Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of the inof means for feeding sheets from a pile onto a Vention; v 30 bed, means for moving the sheets along'the bed Figure 2 S View P ly in section but large y to a shearing position under a .pair of shears, n va on a on e inen-II of Figure means for operating the shears, and means for Figure 2A is a ew Similar t0 Fi ural ShOW-' moving the sheets after they have been sheared ing he pp us a different phase O p to a piler. Our invention also contemplates, if ailing 3 i i 35 desired, means for moving the sheet after it has Figure 3 is a View partly in elevation and p y been sheared on two sides toa bed, whereit is i Section a ong the line IIIIII of Figure 1; moved to another pair of shear, which shears and u e v a View P y in a ion and square the other two sides, and from thence the n partly in section along the'line IV--IV of Fig- 0 sheet, squared onsall four sides, is delivered to ure 3, 40

piling h ni m, a i a Figure 5 is a view insection along the line The apparatus is capable of being adjusted to V. Of Figure accommodate various sizes and widths of sheets u es 6 and Tare views in section and in eleand the various parts of the apparatus are synpectively, showing detai P t Of th chronized and are driven by one source of motive pp a i 45 power. Means are also provided in connection Figure 8 is aplanview of another modification with our apparatus for removing the sheared' of the invention; and. portions of the sheets away vfrom the shearing Figure 9 is a view partly in elevationand part1 blades without any attention thereto on the part in section along the line IX-IX of Figure 8.

5g of the operator. The arrangement of the appa- In accordance with the invention, there is proratus is such that one or more feeders may be 1 V ded n t embodiment Shown i gure 1 two employed for feeding sheets to the bed and thence sheet feeders A and B arranged along each side to the shearing apparatus. Insofar as we know, of a feed bed or shear table Cover which separate no single apparatus has yet been developed for sheetsto be sheared can be moved by a transfer feeding the sheets as rapidly as the shear mech: mechanism Dito shear mechanism E and thence 55 4, respectively, the convex roll 3 being uppermost so that thin sheets will be bent when passing therethrough and thereby retain their rigidity and will be prevented from drooping as they are being fed across the table C to the desired position thereon. The feeders A and B are located so that the rolls 3 and 4'are positioned close to and parallel with the edges of table C so that the sheets may be readily fed to their proper position on the table C (see Figure 5),

The table C extendsfrom a point beyond the feeders A; and B through and to a point beyond the shear mechanism E, adjacent to piler F. The table has two side members 5' and 6, the side member 5 being movable and the side member 6 being fixed. An adjustableand extensible portion 1 is arranged between the members 5 and 5. The portion 1 is made from a series of bars 8 running lengthwise of the table and fastened adjacent to their ends to a link chain '9. The ends of the bars 8 are of reduced thickness (Figure 6) and arereceived in slots Ill, formed in each of the end plates l I, which plates extend between the side members 5 and B and are fastened thereto. The portion of the slot l0 nearest the mem ber 5 is curved to extend downwardly, and a weight 12 is attached to one end of the chain 9. The other end of chain 9 is attachedto side memberB. The tops of bars 8 and the tops of side members 5 and 5 lie in a common horizontal plane. Theend of the plate I I which is attached to the side member 6 has a longitudinal slot l3 therein so that the side members may be moved relative to one another to adjust the width of the shear table C. In Figure 5 the table is shown as fully-extended. Adjustable side guards l5 and I5 are secured to the outside of side members 5' and 6, respectively, and the setting thereof with ree spect to the side members can be varied by the insertion or removal of shims therebetween as determined by operating conditions. -The side bracket or shelf H for supporting a belt conveyor l8 for carrying away the sheared edges from the shear mechanism to a desired discharge point. The conveyor I8 is driven by a belt [9 which, in turn, is driven by a pulley l9a on shaft 52.

- The shear mechanism E consists of two guillotine type shears 2|] and 2|, one of which 29 is secured to the movable side member 5, and the other 2! to the fixed side member 6. As these shears are identical in construction, except as to the manner in which they are secured to the bed plate 55, shear 2| only will be described and similar numerals with aprime aifixed thereto will be applied to shear 20. The shear. 2| is of the well known reciprocating or guillotine type and consists of a frame 22 in which a head 23 is reciprocally mounted and to the lower edge of which a cutting blade orknife 24 is attached. This blade cooperates with the blade 25 secured to the outside of the side member 5. The head 23 is reciprocated by the pitman 2B which is driven by a shaft 2'! rotated by a gear wheel 59 which, in turn, is drivenby the pinion 5| on the shaft 52, which shaft is rotated by the motor G.

, A gag or sheet brake 28 is adjustably secured to the upper part of the shear frame 22 by supporting rods 29 and spring connections 30. The gag is positioned immediately above the side member 6 and adjacent to the shear blade 25 and cooperates withthe side member to position the sheet and to hold it in position during the shearing operation. The gag consists of a runner-like portion arranged just above and along the side member 6. One end 3I-of the gag facingthe incoming sheet is flared upwardlyto insure that the sheet will pass beneath the gag. The gag may be formed from metal, and if desired, mayhave .the bottom surface formed-from a material like brake lining having a desirable coeflicient of friction for retarding the sheet.

Secured to the shear head 23 is a projecting member or shelf 32 in the form 'of an angle bar through which the rods 29 pass. Between the gag- 28 and shelf 32, helical springs 33 are inter-posed. The upper ends of rods 29 are threaded through the spring connections 30 sothat the gag can be adjusted vertically. It is'one of the features of our invention thatone end 34 of the gag, the'end ad-- jacent the piler F, may be so positioned that it can act as a brake to slow down and position the sheet to be sheared, as will bedescribed later. It will be apparent from the construction and mode of support of the gag that it will be moved downwardly when the head 23 is moved downwardly and that pressure will be-applied gradually to the gag through the springs 33. When the head moves upwardly, the spring members 30 will return the gag to its upper position;

The sheets are moved fromthe position in which they are placed on the table from the feeder A or B to a position under the shears by the transfer mechanism D which we will now describe. Movably disposed within the channel 16 of side member 5 is a sliding member 36 which has rollerbearing connections with the sides of the channel l 9. The member 35 has adjacent its ends two depending portions or lugs 3'! and and midway of its end a depending portion or lug 39. To the depending portion 31 a bell crank-lever 40 is pivoted. One end of the bell crank'is pivotally secured'toa vertically'movable dog 4|, which extends upwardly'through an aperture in-the'member 35. The other end of the bell crank is. pivotally secured to one end of a horizontally extending member or link 42, which member extends through the depending portion 39 and has collars 43 and 44 on either side of the depending portion 39. The other end of the member 42 is connected to one end of a 7 second bell crank lever 45,which lever is pivotally secured to the lug 38. The other end of the'bell crank lever 45 is pivotally'secured to a vertically movable dog 46 which extends upwardly through an aperture in the member 36. The member 42 is pivotally connected by means of a link or connecting rod 41 to the upper end of a slotted link 48 of a swinging block linkage, This linkage consists of the slotted link 48 which is swung back and forth by a sliding block 49 moving in the slot of the link anism D at what may be called the beginning 7 of an operating cycle.

This view shows the posi-- tion of the shear blades 24 just after. a shearing out has been made and the blades are on the way up. The gag 28 has just releasedthe sheet and the dogs M and 36 are just about to rise and move forward to push the sheared sheet into the piler and to deliver an unsheared sheet into the shearer. The sliding member 36 is at the extreme left-hand position with respect to the shear table C and the dogs Al and it are in a retracted position such that'the tops thereof are flush with or below the top surface of the shear table C. If the gear wheel 55) is rotated cloclrwise as shown, thesliding block 49 will cause the slotted link. 58. to swing to the right or clockwise. Durihg the travel ofthe block 39 through the are represented by the angle a, the travel of the link 43 will cause the link 42 to move to the right and rotate the bell crank levers 4d and and raise the dogs 4! and 4-6 upwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. The various parts of the apparatus are so adjusted that there is no forward movement of the sliding member 35 until the collar 43 engages the depending portion or lug 39 by which time the dogs fill and 46 have been raised Vertically to thedesired extent. Further movement ofthe member 42 by the link 41' causes the sliding member 35 to move to the right so that the dog (H will contact the sheet 54 which has just been fed onto the shear table C and will move the sheet to the posiwell known in the art and whose method of operation is well known, it is felt that no further description thereof isnnecessary.

Figure 2A. shows a sheet 54a going into the piler with the followed unsheared sheet 54 just ,deliv ered to the shear. The gag is just clamping down and the top shear blade is going down.

The dogs are ready to drop and move back to the position shown in Figure 2. The feeder is putting the next sheet 5419 onto'the left-hand end of the shear table Continued rotation of gear wheel 58 from the position shown in Figure 2A through the are 6 will cause the dogs M and 45 to be lowered to the position where the topsthereof will be flush with or below the surfaceof the table C at which time the collar M will contact the depending lug 39 and further rotation of gear wheel 58 will cause the transfer mechanism D to return to the position shown in Figure 2 at the beginning of the operating cycle. In the meantime, another sheet has been fed onto table C.

Associated with the side member 5 and the used to designate like parts. The dogs 4H and M are disposed so that a line joining their centers is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the sheartable C. This arrangement insures that the sheets will be accurately presented to the shearing mechanism. Likewise, the arrangement of the dogs 46 and 46' is such that the sheets after they have been sheared are accurately presented to the piler F.

The apparatus is designed to travel at a high rate of speed of the order necessary to handle in the neighborhood of 200 sheets per minute and at such high rates of speed, it is evident that the speed of movement of the sheets along the table to the shear mechanism will be considerable. In order that the speed of travel of the sheet maybe checked before the sheet is in the shearing position, we provide that the right-hand side of the gag 28 (as viewed in. Figure 2) is slightly lower than the left-hand side, as hereinabove described, so i that the gag will exert a braking action on the forward moving sheet. The descent of-shear head 23 and the positioning of gag ,28 isso determined that the sheet will be stopped and held in position by the gag just previous to the descent of the shears. This will insure that the sheets will always stop in the exact position desired.

We prefer to arrange the swinging block link age in out-of-phase relation with the pitrnan 2B which reciprocates the shear head 23. Thus the shear head will be traveling at its lowest speed when the sheet transfer mechanism is traveling at or close to its greatest speed. By this arrangement, the gag 28 is moving slowly at the time the sheet is moving rapidly so that a closer adjustment of the gag relative to' the side member 6 may be maintained.

The apparatus may be adjusted to handle an shear sheets of different widths. To that end, we have made one side of the apparatus (the left side as viewed in Figure 3) adjustable with reference to the other side. The shear frame 22 is fixedly secured to a bed plate and shear frame 22 is secured to'the bed plate 55 in such manner that it may be readily moved to and away from the frame 22. Mounted on frame 22 is a hand wheel 55 which is connected by means of a roller chain 51 to the sprocket of a nut 58 attached to the lower part of the frame 22. The nut 53 is mounted on the threaded rod 59,- which" is mounted against turning on base plate 55. It is apparent that by rotation of the hut 58, the movable shear 28 can be adjusted relative to the fixed shear 2!. The pinion 5! which drives the gear 55" is splined to the shaft 52'so' that the pinion 5i and the gear wheel 59 remain in fixed position relative to one another for all working positions of the movable shear 2d.

The embodiment of our invention which is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 is designed to shear the four sides of a sheet. The apparatus consists of a feeder Bil, similar to the'feeder which we have already described, by means of which the sheets are, fed, one by one, onto the shear table BI and along that table by transfer mechanism to the fixed shears 62 and movable shears 63. After two sides of a sheet have been sheared, it is moved by the action of two dogs 64 and 65 of the' transfer mechanism onto a conveyor mechanism 66, which'conveys the sheet to shear table 51, where suitable transfer mechanism moves the sheet to fixed shear 68 and movable shear 69, where the remaining sides of the sheet mechanism associated with each table, the shears 62, 63 and 68, 69 are similar in construction to mechanism heretofore described, it is considered unnecessary to further describe them. Sufilce it to say, that all the mechanisms in both embodiments of my invention are driven by one suitable prime mover through suitable gearing as shown in Fig. 8.

The conveyor 66 which moves the sheets from the table 6| to the table 67 consists of two spaced apart endless belts 1| and 12. The arrangement of both belts is identical so that only one need be described, and like numerals with a prime afiixed thereto are applied to the other belt. The belt 12, which is preferably a V-belt, passes around two pulleys 13 and M. The pulley 14 is located adjacent to and supported by the exit end of table BI and is driven at a proper feeding speed by suitable gearing from the shaft 15; while the pulley 13 is located adjacent to and supported by one side of the shear table 61 in such position that the sheets may be readily and properly fed onto the table 61. A roller 16 made of fibre is positioned over the top flight of the belt 12 and adjacent the pulley l3 and is normally in contact with the upper flight of the belt 12. The length of flight of the conveyor belt 12 is such that when a sheet is propelled forward by the dogs 64 and 65', the forward end of the sheet Will pass between the Wheel 16 and the top flight of the belt 12. The belt 12 is driven at a speed which is synchronized so as to place the sheet on table 61 at the proper time with respect to the sheet-transfer mechanism of table 61. It will be observed that belt l2 and its associated portions and wheel 13 are movable laterally with respectto belt H, so as to accommodate various widths of sheets. It is also within the contemplation of our invention to provide that the apparatus represented by table 61, transfer mechanism, shears 68, 69 and piler Ill be so arranged that the apparatus, as a whole, may be adjusted in position with respect to the exit end of table 6|, so that sheets of various lengths may be handled. To thatend the conveyor mechanism 66 would be changed in length as required.

It is, of course, understood that in the embodiment of our invention shown in Figures 1 through 7 and in the embodiment shown in Figures 8 and 9, the feeding mechanism can be arranged at one or both sides of the shear table or on the end, as shown in Figure 8; or on the end and on one or both sides of the shear table, depending upon the desired arrangement. In any arrangement, the feeding of sheets will be synchronized with the action of the transfer mechanism and the action of the shear mechanmm and piler.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that we have provided shearing apparatus which is economical to construct and operate, is automatic in operation and can be run at high speeds. The invention possesses the advantage of providing means for driving shearing mechanism at high speed and in definite speed relation to mechanism for supplying sheets to and moving them away from the shears after the sheets have been trimmed accurately to the desired size. The apparatus maybe readily and simply adjusted to meet various operating requirements and also provides means for accurately positioning the sheets in the shearing position.

While we have herein illustrated and described certain preferred embodiments of our invention, it will be apparent that changes in the construction and operation of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit'of the invention or the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a shear table, a pair of shears arranged opposite one another on opposite sides of the table, means for feeding sheets one by one from a pile onto said table, means interposed between said feeding means and the table for bending the sheets transversely of their path of travel whereby the sheets may be fed onto the table without drooping, reciprocating means for moving a sheet along said table to a shearing position under said shears and means for progressively retarding the longitudinal movement of a sheet as it approaches the shears whereby overfeeding of the sheet is prevented, said retarding means also serving to clamp the sheet in cutting position during the shearing stroke.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a shear table, a pair of shears arranged opposite one another on opposite sides of the table, means for feeding sheets one by one from a pile onto said table, means interposed between said feeding means and the table whereby the sheets may be fed onto the table without drooping, said last mentioned means comprising cooperating concave and convex rollers between Whichthe sheet is passed, and reciprocating means for moving a sheet along said table to a shearing position under said shears and means for progressively retarding the longitudinal movement of a sheet as it approaches the shears whereby overfeeding of the sheet is prevented, said retarding means also serving to clamp the sheet in cutting position during the shearing stroke.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a shear ing table, said table comprising spaced apart parallel side members, one of which is fixed and the other of which is movable relative thereto, a shear secured to each side member and supporting surfaces extending between said members, the top of the supporting surfaces and the top of the side members lying in one plane, said supporting surfaces, between the side members being extensible, means adjacent one end of the table for feedingsheets onto the table, means for moving the sheets to a position such that the shears may operate thereon, means adjacent the other end of the table for receiving and piling the sheared sheets, and means for moving the sheared sheets from the shears and into the piler.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a shearing table, said table comprising spaced apart parallel sidemembers, one of which is fixed and the other of which is movable relative thereto, a shear secured to each side member and supporting surfaces extending-between said members, the top of the supporting surfaces and the top of the side members lying in one plane, said supporting surfaces, between the side members being extensible, means adjacent one end of the table for feeding sheets onto the table, means for moving the sheets to a position such that the shears may operate thereon, means adjacent the other end of the table for receiving and piling the sheared sheets, and means for moving the sheared sheets from the shears and into the piler, said sheet-moving means being actuated by a swinging block linkage.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a shearing table, said table comprising spaced apart parallel side members, one of which is fixed and the other of which is movable relative thereto,

means for moving said movable side member, a 15 shear secured to each "side memberand' supporting surfaces extending between said members; thetop of the supporting surfaces and the top of the side members lying in one plane, said supporting surfaces between the sidemembers being extensible, means adjacentone en'd of the table for feeding sheets onto the'table, means.

to the other side member, each of said shears comprisinga frame, a head reciprocably mounted in the frame, a cutting blade on each head, a cooperating blade secured to each side member, a gag for retarding the sheet and for holding the sheet in shearing position, a spring support for securing the gagto the frame, means on said head for moving said gag downwardly toward the side member, and means for adjusting the posiopposite edges of a sheet, means for adjusting one unit toward and away from the other, an eX- tensible table between the shear units, and means for extending and contracting said table to vary its width simultaneously with the relative adjustment of the shear units.

8. Sheet feeding and shearing mechanism, comprising spaced apart shear units for operating on opposite edges of a sheet, means for adjusting one unit toward and away from the other, an extensible table between the shear units, means for extending and contracting said table to vary its width simultaneously with the relative adjustment of the shear units, and feeding mechanism movable along each edge of said table, the feeding means along one edge being adjustable along with the adjustment in the width of the table and the shears.

9. Sheet feeding and shearing apparatus comprising opposed edge shears for trimming opposite edges of a sheet, means for thrusting a sheet into position between the shears, and means for progressively retarding the free movement of the sheet as it approaches the shearing position between the shears whereby the sheet is accurately positioned and overtravel is prevented.

1O. Sheet feeding and shearing apparatus comprising opposed edge shears for trimming opposite edges of a sheet, means for thrusting a sheet into position between the shears, and means connected with and operated by the shears for progressively retarding the free movement of the sheet as it approaches the shearing position between the shears whereby the sheet is accurately positioned and overtravel is prevented.

11. Sheet feeding and shearing apparatus comprising opposed edge shears for trimming op posite edges of a sheet, means for thrusting a sheet into position between the shears, and means for frictionally retarding the free movement of the sheet as it approaches the shearing position between the shears whereby the sheet is accurately positioned and overtravel is prevented,

tion "as the sheet is moved into. shearing'position, said feeding means moving the sheet with decreasing speed during the same portion of travel of the sheet. a.

12. In apparatus ofthe-class described, a shear table, shearing means arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the table, means for feed.- ing'sheets one by one onto the table, means for moving the sheets alongthe table into a posi- .tionto be operated on by'the shearing means,

means for moving. said sheets away from'said shears, a second'sh'ear table, means for feeding said sheets one by one to the second shear table, shearing means arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second table, means for moving thesheets along thetable into a position to be operated on' by the last mentioned shearing means, a piler, and means for moving said sheared sheets from the shears to the piler.

13. In apparatus of the class described,a shear table, shearing means arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the table, means for feeding sheets one by one onto the table, means for movingthe sheets alongth'e table into a position to be operated on by the shearing means, means for moving said sheets'away from said shears,'a second shear table, means for feeding said sheets one by one to the second shear table, shearing means arranged parallel. t'othe longitudinal axis of. the second table; means for moving the sheets along the table into a position to be operated on by the last mentioned shearing means, a piler, means for moving said sheared sheets from the shears to the piler,- and common driving means for operating all of said moving parts in synchronis'm.

14. In apparatus of the class described, a shear table, shearing means arranged parallel to-the longitudinal axis of the table, means for feeding sheets one by one onto the table, means for moving the sheets along the table into a position to be operated on by the shearing means, means for moving said sheets away from said shears, a

second shear table angularly disposed with respect to the first table, means for feeding said sheets one by one to the second shear table, shearing means arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second table, means for moving the sheets along the table into a position to be operated on by the last mentioned shearing means, a piler, and means for moving said sheared sheets from the shears to the piler.

15. In apparatus of the class described, a shear table, shearing means associated with said table, means for feeding a sheet onto said table, means for moving a sheet along said table to a shearing position beneath said. shearing means, and means effective in normal position progressively to retable, a pair of shears arranged opposite one another on opposite sides of the table, means for feeding sheets one by one from a pile onto said table, means for moving a sheet along said table to a shearing position under said shears, and then away from the shearing means, said last-mew tioned means comprising slides movable along said table, vertically movable dogs associated with the member, and means for reciprocating said slides, said last-mentioned means including means moving the dogs vertically before each movement of the slides along the table.

18. In apparatus of the class described, an extensible shear table, means for feeding a sheet onto said table, means for shearing both sides of the sheet arranged parallel to and adjacent the sides of the table, means for moving a sheet along the table to a shearing position beneath said shearing means, means for progressively retarding the longitudinal movement of the sheet as it approaches the shears and for clamping the sheet after it has reached the shearing position and during the shearing operation, means for moving the sheet away from said shearing means while it moves the next succeeding sheet under the shearing means, a conveyor extending along and substantially parallel to said shearing means below said table for carrying away the portions of the sheet which have been sheared from the sides thereof.

19. In apparatus of the class described, a shearing table, said table comprising spaced apart parallel side members, one of which is fixed and the other of which is movable relative thereto, a shear secured to each side member and supporting surfaces extending between said members, the top of the supporting surfaces and the top of the side members lying in one plane, said supporting surfaces between the side members being extensible, means'adjacent' one end of the table for feeding sheets onto the table, means for moving the sheets to a position such that the shears may operate thereon, and means connected with and operatedby-the shears for progressively retarding the free longitudinal movement of the sheet as it approaches the shearing position and for clamping the sheet after it has reached the shearing position and during the shearing operation.

20. Sheet feeding and shearing apparatus comprising opposed edge shears for trimming opposite edges of a sheet, means for thrusting a sheet into position between the shears, means for progressively retarding the free longitudinal move ment of the sheet as it approaches the shearing position between the shears whereby the sheet is accurately positioned and over-travel is prevented, and a conveyor extending along said shears below said shears for carrying away the portions of the sheet which have been sheared from the sides thereof.

CLARENCE J. KLEIN. ERNEST W. RIEGER. 

